Informed Decision Heads Chicago Handicap

George Strawbridge’s Informed Decision, last year’s champion female sprinter, returns to Arlington Park July 4 to defend her title in the $100,000 Chicago Handicap (gr. III).

Informed Decision will be spotting six to 11 pounds to her seven rivals in the seven-furlong event over Polytrack. She won last year’s running by 4 3/4 lengths in 1:21.49 while carrying the same impost.

While she was a closing third last time out in the Humana Distaff (gr. I) at Churchill Downs on Derby Day, it should be noted that Informed Decision has tasted defeat only once while racing over a synthetic surface. The daughter of Monarchos dropped her 2010 debut April 8 at Keeneland in the seven-furlong Vinery Madison (gr. I).

Julien Leparoux will be aboard again. Informed Decision got in her final bit of work June 26 at Presque Isle Downs in Pennsylvania, which also has a synthetic surface, working five furlongs in :59 2/5.

Second in the weights at 118 is Derby Daze Farm, Mark Hoffman, and Earl Trostrud’s Hooh Why. The 4-year-old filly is also winless in 2010, but is a grade I winner over Polytrack, taking last year’s Ashland Stakes at Keeneland. She also scored in the La Lorgnette at Woodbine over their Polytrack layout.

Hooh Why drilled a half-mile in :49 at Presque Isle the same day Informed Decision worked.

Others of note in the Chicago field are Carl Pollard’s Minewander, a winner at the trip at Keeneland in an allowance/optional claimer during the April meet, and the Illinois-bred Secret Kin, winner of the Isaac Murphy Stakes at Arlington June 19 at six furlongs.